Excellus CEO Klein's compensation rises to $5.2M

Compensation paid last year to Excellus BlueCross BlueShield CEO David Klein totaled $5.2 million, the Blues disclosed in a state filing Thursday.

Klein’s 2011 compensation includes a $2.8 million bonus. The board of directors described the $2.8 million award to Klein, who this week announced plans to retire in December, as a retention bonus offered to insure his continued employment through 2010.

“As a governing board, we wanted to ensure continuity of leadership at a critical time for our organization,” Blues chairman Randall Clark said in a statement.

The company’s next highest paid executive last year was former Chief Financial Officer Emil Duda, whose pay totaled $1.6 million last year, up 14 percent over the $1.4 million he realized in 2010. Duda retired at the end of 2011.

If their post-employment packages compare with multiyear deals Excellus made with other top level retirees, Klein and Duda can expect generous compensation for several years to come. Former CEO Howard Berman’s retirement—paid out over three years—totaled some $5.1 million.

Excellus president and chief operating officer Christopher Booth, who widely is expected to succeed Klein, received total compensation of $1.2 million last year, up 9 percent from his $1.1 million 2010 pay package.

Factors detailed by Excellus’ board as determining the insurer’s executive compensation include marketplace standards and performance. Compensation consultants help directors determine how comparable health insurance executives are paid, while the board weighs how well management has guided the company in the previous year, directors said.

“When it comes to performance and value, the company has been very successful,” the directors said, citing the company’s high quality ratings, sound finances and relatively low premium costs.

In 2011, Excellus collected $5.7 billion in revenues, up from $5.2 billion in 2010. After seeing membership slide for several years, it also gained subscribers, enrolling 85,000 new members last year. Membership stood at 1.8 million at the year’s end.

After posting operating losses in two of the last five years, the company showed a 2.8 percent operating margin in 2011, with a net operating gain of $157 million. In 2010, Excellus posted net operating income of $32.97 million, a .06 percent margin. The insurer’s net income after investment gains and federal taxes was $223.3 million in 2011 and $44.5 million in 2010.

What You're Saying

Martha Bush at 2:36:29 PM on 3/2/2012

Pathetic. And we wonder why our rates keep going up with this "non-profit" insurer??

Dick Kijowski at 8:02:58 AM on 3/3/2012

That is LUDICROUS. No one, no one running a company is worth that kind of money. In the long run it's people like us that contribute to their salary. How much is enough ? There should be salary cap. If CEO, COO'S have a problem with that, let them look for an hourly paid... Read More >

That is LUDICROUS. No one, no one running a company is worth that kind of money. In the long run it's people like us that contribute to their salary. How much is enough ? There should be salary cap. If CEO, COO'S have a problem with that, let them look for an hourly paid position. A company owner that could be debated. How much more of this BS do people have to tolerate ???????? < close

Jim Bertolone at 1:46:14 PM on 4/10/2012

Some believe this is the tip of the iceberg and that Mr. Klein's and Mr. Duda's retirement packages are much more generous than reported. I believe there are FOIA requests pending on this issue. Remember this is not even a for profit health insurer in a country that insists ... Read More >

Some believe this is the tip of the iceberg and that Mr. Klein's and Mr. Duda's retirement packages are much more generous than reported. I believe there are FOIA requests pending on this issue. Remember this is not even a for profit health insurer in a country that insists that health care decisions be made by for profit companies and their insurance execs,but Excellus is registered as a not-for profit.By the way,Labor Unions are non-profit.Can you imagine how fast the Feds would put the handcuffs on a union leader receiving a seven figure salary?Excellus, via Mr. Duda, also donated at least $150,000 of your health care dollars to glorify an exhibit on video games at the Museum. At a time when childhood diabetes is reaching epidemic status,it would seem that our health care dollarsshould not be used to promote an activity where young people spend large amounts of time on the couch.Jim Bertolone,PresidentRochester & Vicinity AFL-CIO < close